DIRECTV to Add Voice Search Features to App

The upgrade will be part of the satellite service's app starting this summer.

The company just detailed plans to add voice control to its smartphone app sometime this summer. Simply known as “Voice,” the new feature will allow subscribers to bark out channel choices and content searches using iOS and Android smartphones. Tablet versions are expected to follow at some point.

To use the Voice features, you’ll need a DIRECTV.com account, as well as the Genie DVR or the HR-24 set-top/DVR (or later) — with a web connection, of course. Our friends at Solid Signal have a detailed review of the upcoming function and say it’s very similar to using Siri on the iPhone. That’s not surprising, considering the Voice feature was developed in conjunction with Nuance Communications, the same company that powers Apple’s voice recognition application.

The new features will give users a choice to get results on the phone or the big screen, as well as options to schedule recordings and get programming suggestions.